SupremeToday Landscape Ad
Back
Next
Judicial Analysis Court Copy Headnote Facts Arguments Court observation
Listen Audio Icon Pause Audio Icon
judgment-img

2014 Supreme(Del) 2662

HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Valmiki J. Mehta, J.
Geeta Roy - Appellant
Versus
State & Anr. - Respondent
FAO 100/2013
Decided On : 20-03-2014

Advocates Appeared:
For the Appellant :Ravi Gupta, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Rajat Joneja, Mr. Manmohan Sharma, Mr. Ajay Mohan Gupta, Advocates.
Rajveer Singh, Mr. Gurmit Singh Hans, Advocates with Mrs. Illa Roy, wife and Ms. Rajni Roy, daughter of respondent No. 2.

Headnote:

Succession Act, 1925 -Section 299 - Will - Probate - Forged will - Contradiction - Denial of - Will is proved by examination of attesting witnesses - Probate court has found that the Will is a forged and fabricated document because the signatures on the Will are not the signatures of the deceased testator - There are far too many suspicious circumstances with respect to the Will - Probate Court denied to grant probate of the Will - Probate court has come to a finding that the deceased testator was not in a sound disposing mind - Inconsistencies in the statements not only to show that unnatural circumstances existed at the time of making of the Will, but also that the deposition of the witnesses of the appellant - There is nothing unusual or illegal for the probate court to draw conclusions of existence of suspicious circumstances on account of contradictions in the depositions of the witnesses - Appellant did not state that Advocate was present when the Will was executed - There was no need of cross-examination on the aspect of presence of Advocate for the court - Contradictions were found to exist with regard to advocate role - Held, it was very necessary to summon Advocate, who had a crucial role of drafting the Will, taking the final print out of the Will and who was also present at the execution of the Will - Appeal dismissed.

Valmiki J. Mehta, J. (Oral):--

1. This first appeal is filed under Section 299 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 challenging the judgment of the probate court dated 15.12.2012 dismissing the probate petition filed by the appellant. By the petition probate was sought of the Will dated 11.1.2007 of Sh. Himanshu Kumar Roy. Sh. Himanshu Kumar Roy was the real brother of the appellant/petitioner as also the respondent No. 2/objector. Petitioner propounded the Will dated 11.1.2007 and contended that the same stands proved in view of the depositions of both the attesting witnesses one Ms. Juthika Roy and Mr. R.S. Rathore. As per the petitioner, the attesting witnesses as also the petitioner have proved the due execution and attestation of the Will Ex.PW2/1 and also the fact that the deceased was in sound disposing mind, and consequently, probate petition ought to have been allowed and not dismissed. It was also the case of the petitioner/appellant that there were no suspicious circumstances as was contended on behalf of the objector.

2. The objector/respondent No. 2, and who is also the real brother of the deceased Sh. Himanshu Kumar Roy, filed his written statement/objections and contended that the Will was forged and fabricated document; that the signatures of the deceased Sh. Himanshu Kumar Roy on the Will were pleaded to be forged signatures; the Will was stated to be a collusive document and fabricated by the petitioner in collusion with the two attesting witnesses i.e Dr. Ms. Juthika Roy and Mr. R.S. Rathore; Dr. Ms. Juthika Roy is the ex-wife of respondent No. 2 and was therefore inimical with the respondent No. 2/objector; the other attesting witnesses Sh. R. S. Rathore was the paramour of Dr. Ms. Juthika Roy. It was also the case of the objector/respondent No. 2 that the deceased was not in a mentally fit condition because he was suffering from diarrhea and pneumonia for about four days before his death and which aspect is to be taken with the fact that the Will is dated 11.1.2007 and the deceased testator died on the next date i.e 12.1.2007 in the hospital. In sum and substance the respondent No. 2/objector contends that the Will is a forged and fabricated document, there are suspicious circumstances and deceased testator was not in a sound disposing mind for executing the subject Will dated 11.1.2007.

3. The probate court has held that the Will in question though is proved as per the case of the petitioner by examination of attesting witnesses, Dr. Ms. Juthika Roy and Mr. R.S. Rathore, however, the probate court has found that the Will is a forged and fabricated document because the signatures on the Will are not the signatures of the deceased testator. The probate court has also held that there are far too many suspicious circumstances with respect to the Will, and therefore, no probate can be granted of the Will, which has been held not to be a valid Will of the deceased testator Sh. Himanshu Kumar Roy.

4. Following are the some of the conclusions given by the probate court for dismissing the probate petition:-

(i) The deceased testator was not of sound disposing mind on 11.1.2007 when the Will is said to have been made. As per the death summary report Ex.RW3/4 as also the deposition of the doctor RW3 Sh. Anil Sharma it was clear that the deceased testator was suffering from fever, cough, chest pain and loose motions accompanied by weakness for the last four days prior to making of the Will. It was not possible for the deceased testator in such sick condition to have accompanied the petitioner and PW2/Dr. Ms. Juthika Roy (ex-wife of objector) to the house of PW3/Sh. R.S. Rathore for making of the Will.

(ii) The Will was found to be bearing the stamp and seal of a notary Advocate Sh. K.C. Jain and who as RW-2 deposed that the rubber stamp of his name and registration number found on the Will were neither his rubber stamps nor the other stamps showing attestation by himself as notary. This witness RW2 also stated that the Will
































Click Here to Read the rest of this document

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Judicial Analysis

SupremeToday

SupremeToday Portrait Ad
supreme today icon
logo-black

An indispensable Tool for Legal Professionals, Endorsed by Various High Court and Judicial Officers

Please visit our Training & Support
Center or Contact Us for assistance

qr

Scan Me!

India’s Legal research and Law Firm App, Download now!

For Daily Legal Updates, Join us on :

whatsapp-icon Back to top